Dozens killed after militants ambush NATO convoy in western Afghanistan

2012-03-30 11:02:04 GMT+7 (ICT)

FARAH CITY, AFGHANISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- As many as 35 people were killed on late Wednesday when a large group of insurgents attacked a NATO supply convoy in western Afghanistan, sparking a three-hour firefight, local officials said on Thursday.

The attack took place on Wednesday evening when a group of heavily armed gunmen ambushed the convoy of trucks on a highway in the Gulistan district in western Farah province. The trucks were transporting goods and supplies to a NATO base in Helmand province.

"Coming from Shindand and Farah armed helicopters took off to support the convoy, succeeding to neutralize the threat," said Colonel Vincenzo Lauro, a spokesman for Regional Command West of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). "Major loss incurred by the insurgents."

There were conflicting reports on the number of casualties, but a local police official said at least 30 insurgents and five Afghan security guards carrying AK-47s were killed. In addition, nine others were reported injured, including four insurgents and five security guards.

Two oil tankers were torched during the attack.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi claimed responsibility for the attack, but confirmed the deaths of only six insurgents. "U.S. helicopters also arrived to the scene and carried out severe bombing in which 6 Mujahideen (Muslim fighters) were martyred, may Allah accept them, and 12 were injured whereas 10 motorbikes of Mujahideen were also destroyed," he said.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2012-03-30

do the motorbikes go to heaven too?